England Lions' Joe Root shows he is ready to face New Zealand in first Test at Lord's

The Lions sharpened their claws in front of England’s selectors at Grace Road
on Friday to bring New Zealand back to heel, though none of the performances
were likely to have swayed opinion ahead of the first Test squad of the
summer when it is announced on Saturday morning.

Into the reckoning: Joe Root's century has put him at the front of the queue to replace the injured Kevin Pietersen Photo: ACTION IMAGES

Joe Root, the Lions captain, scored a hundred, including bringing up his fifty with a straight six off spinner Bruce Martin, but is a certainty for Lord’s whatever he did here. Michael Carberry made a fine 77, but he will not be considered unless Alastair Cook or Nick Compton get injured between now and next Thursday.

Among the bowlers, Toby Roland-Jones’ four for 54 was the most eye-catching performance, but he does not yet have the control to oust any of the other tall pace bowlers used by England over the past few years.

Given the selectors’ faith with continuity and clarity, at least as far as their dealings with players is concerned, the team for the Lord’s Test should replicate the one that last played against New Zealand in Auckland, but with Graeme Swann regaining his place from Monty Panesar following his recovery from elbow surgery.

Yet, Andy Flower, England’s team director, was being cagey at the Lions game, refusing even to confirm whether he would be picking 12 or 13 men for their first squad of this Ashes summer.

The Ashes is a series that Flower is keen to keep on the back-burner at least until New Zealand have been dealt with more summarily than England managed in the winter when they drew the three-Test series 0-0.

On that occasion, the bowling attack was largely anaemic, with only Stuart Broad deserving of praise after James Anderson and Steven Finn failed to sparkle. Finn, who unveiled his new, shortened run on tour, has remained under par, unable to find form or rhythm this season for Middlesex.

In the current game against Warwickshire his frustration has mounted to the point where he has seen him return to a longer version though wickets continue to elude him.

His pace and height mark him out and there has been nobody in the Lions team to compete specifically for that niche, but pace is not so vital at this time of year when the pitches offer seam movement, something Roland-Jones, his Middlesex team-mate, and Graham Onions, managed here to ensure New Zealand lost their last seven wickets for 101 runs.

Roland-Jones bowled better than he did on the first day while Onions was his usual parsimonious self with his two for 46, but only the latter is likely to be named in England’s squad this morning and only if they feel Finn needs a jolt and a 13-man squad is the way to deliver it.

Otherwise, Tim Bresnan should return following his elbow surgery in order to give Alastair Cook options among his seam bowlers.

England announced a 13-man party for the first Test of the summer this time last year with two spare bowlers in it and many believe they will again this time, but including a spare batsman for one of the bowlers, to cover any last-minute injuries.

But if you have decided your top six, and form points to Jonny Bairstow reprising his role as Kevin Pietersen’s replacement, why muddy the waters with another option? The only other way a 13-man squad would make sense would be if they were considering playing two spinners (unlikely) or four seamers (equally unlikely).

The selectors stayed for most of the day, not to cogitate but to partake in a wider strategy meeting, chaired by Hugh Morris and including the England and Wales Cricket Board’s latest consultant, Andrew Strauss.

As the captain who took England to No 1 in the Test rankings, Strauss would not have seen enough of Root’s leadership here to assess his leadership qualities but he cannot fail to have been impressed by his batting.

In challenging conditions, Root was all soft hands and full face of the bat, with the certain foot movements of a man who has made more than 560 runs in his last fourth first-class innings.

He was dropped on 23 by Brendon McCullum, at second slip, when he played a rare loose shot at Doug Bracewell, but other than that this was an innings of class and maturity that belied his 22 years.

He probably felt he owed the side a performance after his decision to bowl first on Thursday after winning the toss. It is tempting to put your opponents on a green-tinged pitch, but when the wind is as strong as it was it essentially puts one end out of commission, something Hamish Rutherford took advantage of until he was run out by Chris Woakes.

Carberry was no less savvy than his captain though he does have 10 years more experience. Although he professed surprise when he was picked for this Lions team, the left-hander knuckled down like the true pro he is.

Now that Root has cemented a place in the middle-order, England are not blessed with too many spare opening batsmen should Cook or Nick Compton break a finger, but he is one they would certainly consider should such a blight occur.